Not long before tipoff of what would become his team's 29th consecutive loss in San Antonio, Golden State coach Mark Jackson was asked his chief concern in facing a Spurs team minus All-Star point guard Tony Parker.

His line in Wednesday's 104-93 victory over the Warriors — 25 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four blocks — could have been lifted from the first half of his 16th season, which in turn could have been lifted from his MVP heyday.

Over his past three games, Duncan is averaging 27.7 points, 14.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and shooting 64.3 percent (36 of 56), a sign he has regained his All-Star form from before his Feb. 2 knee injury.

Against the Warriors, the Spurs rode their star power forward down the stretch like it was 1999, feeding Duncan for three consecutive baskets to put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.

“He looked like '05, where down the stretch we give him the ball and put him in a situation to do something,” guard Manu Ginobili said. “Without Tony, we need him to do things like that and he really delivered. That brought back good memories.”

Duncan's recovery stands as the single biggest reason for the three-game winning streak the Spurs carry into Friday's game against Utah, as well as their 6-2 mark with Parker shelved with a left ankle sprain.

His numbers this season per 36 minutes (20.8 points, 12 rebounds, 3.2 blocks while shooting 50.7 percent) rank among the best of his storied career.

Since 1999-2000, only one post player in his age-36 campaign has averaged more than Duncan's 17.2 points (Shaquille O'Neal, 17.8 in 2008-09). Only one 36-year-old in history has averaged more than Duncan's 9.9 rebounds (Robert Parish, 10.1 in 1989-90).

If Duncan can maintain his average of 2.7 blocks per game, it would go down as the most in history for a player at his age.

“He's just unbelievable,” said center Tiago Splitter, who grew up on highlight tapes of Duncan as a teenager in Brazil. “He's not the same guy from 10 years ago. He doesn't have the same quickness.

“But he's figured out how to play great at his age.”

Duncan's feel-good season nearly came unraveled in the first half of the first game of February.

Washington's Martell Webster accidentally rolled into the back of Duncan's legs, resulting in a sprained left knee first feared to be something worse.

Duncan missed four games rehabbing, then barely shot 41 percent from the floor in his first six games since returning. He is just now getting his stroke back.